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The Situation Room
Immigration Crackdown; Interview With Rep. Bryan Steil (R-WI); Mike Waltz Expected to Leave Trump Administration; Impact of Trump Trade War?. Aired 11:30a-12p ET
Aired May 01, 2025 - 11:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[11:30:04]
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JOHN KING, CNN CHIEF NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: What's all this going to do?
TAMARA VARGA, ARIZONA VOTER: Well, this is going to train our individuals how to cook.
KING (voice-over): Tamara Varga is a Trump supporter, happy with some promises kept, but nervous a big one could be broken.
VARGA: I'm worried about Medicaid and Medicare, and Social Security. He did say that he wasn't going to cut them, that he was just going to find the waste. And I really hope that he sticks to that.
KING (on camera): Why is that so important to you?
VARGA: It's important because we need to take care of our people with disabilities and our elderly and those that depend on it. And they can't survive as it is right now. And they -- we cannot cut.
KING (voice-over): Varga is a Tucson hero. Her food truck and candy store employ 50 people with special needs. She's renovating this restaurant to employ even more, a devout Christian, lifelong Republican, but some big changes.
Varga says she no longer believes Trump's claim the 2020 election was rigged. She's now open to supporting Democrats for local offices and says Trump tariffs are one reason prices are not dropping fast enough.
VARGA: The items that we put in our gift baskets have gone up.
KING (on camera): So, when he -- when he says there's going to be some disruption and maybe even some pain, but we're going to get there, for now, you think, OK, I will give you -- I will give you some time?
VARGA: I will give him some time, and I'm hopeful. But I think that if he doesn't come through, he's going to have a lot of people turning on him.
KING (voice-over): Melissa Cordero is an Air Force veteran who voted for Trump once back in 2016 and regrets it every day.
MELISSA CORDERO, ARIZONA VOTER: He is, like, crazed right now. I'm constantly going, can he do that? I'm angry because the communities that I care the most about are being attacked, the LGBTQ community, the trans community. And what's really got me angry is immigration and what's happening to deported veterans.
KING: Cordero just visited some deported veterans in Mexico and just learned she lost a conservation grant that was part of a DEI program. She's organizing protests against Trump cuts at the Veterans Administration.
CORDERO: There's no one answering the phones. Mental health too, making cuts in that area, that's, like, what all of us veterans need the most.
RAY FLORES, ARIZONA VOTER: She made everything. She made the best cheeseburger. She made...
KING: Ray Flores has named The Monica after a family legend. One hundred years ago, Tia Monica inspired the first of what are now more than a dozen family restaurants.
FLORES: We're sending this to the Food Network, Vince. If you don't make it right, it's through. You're screwed.
KING: His biggest 100-day take, Trump turmoil is rattling consumer confidence.
FLORES: We are definitely seeing less spending at the pump. In our -- in our world, that would be at the cash register, right? So we're seeing numbers dropping 7, 8 percent around the system right now.
KING (on camera): People afraid to go out to dinner.
FLORES: We're built on hospitality and celebration and spending time together. And maybe there's some fear of spending that extra money out.
KING (voice-over): Flores is an independent disgusted with both national parties, all for cutting wasteful spending, all for deporting the undocumented who have committed crimes, but not impressed so far.
FLORES: I'm a little bewildered about how they've gone about things, only because it seems a bit haphazard.
KING (on camera): Scale of one to 10?
FLORES: I'm at a five.
KING: What's your test for this second 100 days?
FLORES: I don't want to see it get worse. I don't want to have that aggressive, somewhat mean-spirited decision-making take root on everything we do. KING (voice-over): A great kitchen thrives on controlled chaos. But,
in Trump, Flores sees too much impulse and emotion and too little planning and creativity, 100 days of too much heat.
John King, CNN, Tucson, Arizona.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WOLF BLITZER, CNN HOST: And we want to thank John King for that excellent, excellent report.
We have had a few minor little technical issues, but we're back on the air right now.
And you have got some major breaking news.
PAMELA BROWN, CNN HOST: That's right. We want to turn back to that breaking news, National Security Adviser Mike Waltz expected to depart his post in the coming day.
So let's talk more about this with Republican Congressman Bryan Steil of Wisconsin.
All right, so let's get your reaction. You served with Waltz while he was a member of Florida's congressional delegation. You have called him a friend. Do you think the administration is making the right call?
REP. BRYAN STEIL (R-WI): Mike Waltz has served our country in many ways, first in uniform, then in the United States Congress, and most recently as national security adviser.
Nothing's confirmed until President Trump confirms it. But if ultimately this is the president's decision, it's important that the president has a team that he has full faith in, in a period of time where we have such a dangerous world, with a hostile Russia, challenges with communist China, threats against our ally Israel.
And so, at the end of the day, it's important that the president is surrounded by adviser that -- advisers that he has full faith and confidence in.
BROWN: When that Signal story initially broke, Trump came to Waltz's defense, calling him a commendable individual, saying he didn't think that he needed to apologize.
What do you think dissolved the president's trust in someone as you clearly respect and who has dedicated so much of his life to national security?
[11:35:06]
STEIL: Well, I would echo the president's initial comments that he's a commendable guy.
This is truly an individual that dedicated his life in service to our country to keep our country safe in an incredibly dangerous world. At the end of the day, it's always the president's decision to make sure that the men and women on his team are those that he has full confidence in to advance his agenda.
Again, until the president confirms it, nothing is confirmed in this administration. But it is important that the president has a team around him that he can rely on.
BROWN: And do you acknowledge with what happened on Signal and how that could have played into this?
STEIL: Well, I think it's important that there's an investigation as to exactly what played out as it relates to that Signal chat that later became public.
But I don't think there's any question that everyone knows that Mike Waltz is a solid man of integrity who's dedicated his life to keeping this country safe.
BROWN: All right, so we have this big breaking news about Mike Waltz. There's also other news as it pertains to the president's trade war.
I want to listen -- us to listen to the president respond to concerns that Americans will have to pay more for goods from China.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Somebody said, oh, the shelves are going to be open. Well, maybe the children will have two dolls, instead of 30 dolls, you know? And maybe the two dolls will cost a couple of bucks more than they would normally.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BROWN: Of course, China sends more than just dolls.
But do you think that's what Americans want to hear from -- right now from President Trump as they try to pay their bills? As you well know, many in your district voted for him because they thought he would lower the price of goods. Do comments like that make him look out of touch?
STEIL: President Trump's playing the long game.
And I think it's overdue that we hold countries accountable for their trade agreements with the United States. For many administrations, the United States looked the other way while countries took advantage of the U.S. I think it's important that we work to strike deals with our allies, Western Europe, Japan, Korea, and others, and then collectively turn and address the real abuse that's occurring in communist China.
China has been the worst abuser of the trade agreements. We have not held them accountable before. The sooner we strike trade agreements with our allies, which the president is engaged in negotiations with, the sooner we can turn our attention to China. I think the broad American people understand that the United States, workers and farmers, in particular, have been hurt by China's abuses.
BROWN: And there's no question there's bipartisan concern about what's gone on with China in terms of trade.
But in talking to lawmakers on both sides of the aisle, there is concern that your constituents, how long are they going to be able to have patience in this long game, as you call it? How much time, how much grace are you going to give as it pertains to prices for everyday Americans who are already struggling to pay their bills?
STEIL: Well, we want to bring down prices, so that American families can afford the things that they need.
Suffering after four years the Biden administration with high inflation and reckless spending, it's time we turn the corner. That said, this is our opportunity to truly strike trade agreements with our allies. And if we do that, we can then work to collectively address the abuses of China.
I think the American people are ready to really face and bring on the task with China.
BROWN: Do you think, though, that the president -- I mean, he has said he's talked to Xi Jinping. The president of China has -- China itself has denied that.
What do you want to see the U.S. do to try to work something out with China? Because farmers, those who export, soybean farmers, for example, they are really being hit hard by this.
STEIL: Well, I think, again, this is where we need to strike those deals with our allies first, and then collectively address and pivot to China.
China's abused trade in many ways, from intellectual property theft, to subsidizing key industries in China, where they're dumping low- priced goods in the United States. And so there is going to be a lot of work to be done to address the abuses of China. That is where getting these trade agreements in place with our allies first sets us up to work with our allies to address the abuse of China.
China has been an egregious abuser of the trade agreements that the United States has made with them. And I think it's overdue that we hold China accountable.
BROWN: It takes a while, though, as you well know, to get trade deals off -- struck, right? It can take years in some cases, as we have seen historically.
You have heard concern from Republicans about the midterms and what this could mean for them, as constituents grow more uneasy about what's happening with the economy. Our latest poll showed that 39 percent disapprove when it comes to the economy with Trump.
Does that concern you as you look ahead to the midterms?
STEIL: To enter into a full trade agreement does take months to do that.
But, once that initial framework is struck, I think we have an opportunity to suspend the tariffs with our allies. Again, working with our allies here is the real key. What we have allowed is China to break apart our allies and be able to play off Western Europe against the United States.
I think where we have a real opportunity is to make sure that we're striking those deals with our allies, so we can collectively address China. I think Western Europe in particular has started to recognize the threat that China places upon Europe, in particular as China has engaged with Russia, as Russia continues its hostile actions against Ukraine.
As Western Europe is waking up to this, as Japan and Korea are working with the United States to address the challenges that they also face from a security standpoint from China, we have a real opportunity if we negotiate this correctly. And I think President Trump is doing a good job in that.
[11:40:09]
BROWN: I want to talk about the spending you talked about, the spending, this fight in Congress to fund President Trump's agenda.
Your Republican colleague Jeff Van Drew is warning about finding savings by cutting Medicaid. I want to listen to him and talk on the other side.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REP. JEFF VAN DREW (R-NJ): In those types of issues, we're affecting real people and real lives. That's where we have to be careful. That's where we have to be concerned. And that, if we do it the wrong way, would be a blueprint for disaster.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BROWN: So, you have talked about the fact that you are all for Medicaid savings, but not Medicaid cuts.
But for your GOP colleagues, they're saying, look, that's the same thing. How will you ensure that the most vulnerable are not affected? Do you share their concerns?
STEIL: We want to make sure Medicaid is there for the most vulnerable, in particular for -- as the program was originally designed, pregnant women, children, the disabled.
What we want to do, though, is also make sure that the program is working to lift people up who can be self-sustainable. And so we often are looking simply at the inputs. How much money are we spending on Medicaid? I think it's also really important that we look at the outputs. How healthy are we allowing people to live out their lives? Are we protecting the most vulnerable?
But, in particular, are we allowing individuals who are able-bodied, in particular, childless adults, a system in which they can be lifted up and off the need of Medicaid in the first place? So, our goal shouldn't simply be measuring Medicaid success by the inputs, but, rather, we should also be looking at the outputs of the program.
And if we do that, we have a real opportunity to not only save money, but to protect the most vulnerable at the same time.
BROWN: But as you have heard from your GOP colleagues, right, they have said look at the math. We're looking for $1.5 trillion cuts here, and Medicaid's going to have to take a big hit if we're going to get to what we have vowed we're going to get to.
So what do you say to those who are concerned that rural hospitals, for example, that rely on Medicaid funding could get hit hard? I see your -- the way that you're talking about this is, we're going to make sure that most vulnerable are protected, but those who we can give a leg up to who don't need to rely on it, we're going to try to work on that.
But there's rural hospitals, for example, that could be impacted.
STEIL: Sure.
But let's look at who is on Medicaid. Yes, we need to make sure that Medicaid is there and is strong for the most vulnerable, as we talked about, pregnant women, children and the disabled. But we also need to make sure reasonable tests are in place.
So, for example, I believe that there should be work requirements in particular for childless, able-bodied adults. Another aspect is, we see California suspending an asset test. That gives you an amazing situation where an individual could be a multimillion-dollar lottery winner, yet qualify for Medicaid in the state of California. That's ridiculous.
Putting in place basic tests to make sure that the system is not being abused by those individuals that the system is not designed for actually strengthens the program for the most vulnerable. And so, while many people are focused on the inputs, the amount of money we're putting into the program, I think the real focus should be on the outputs.
Are we allowing people to live healthy lives? Is the program strong for those who need the program most? And are we making sure that those individuals who are able-bodied, healthy adults who fall on hard times, is the program designed to allow them to come back into being self-sustainable?
BROWN: But more than 40 percent of rural areas rely on Medicaid. And, again, just going back to the hospitals, for example, because I understand your point about individuals and trying to decipher through that, but there is a lot of concern about hospitals that rely on Medicaid funding. Can you provide any assurances that that funding to these hospitals
will not be cut?
STEIL: Well, again, the funding is directly attributed to the individual.
And so what I'm saying is, instead of simply looking at the input, how much does a hospital receive from Medicaid, we should be looking at how much money is received for those individuals that truly need it. Often, Medicaid is underfunding the actual cost of the service.
So the more individuals that find themselves on Medicaid, many deserving individuals included in this, actually puts a significant burden on the broader health care system. It's why making sure people are moving into private insurance that has a higher payment rate is actually really important to many of those rural hospitals in my home state of Wisconsin and across the country.
BROWN: All right, Congressman Bryan Steil, thank you so much.
We will be right back.
Appreciate your time.
STEIL: Thank you.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[11:48:50]
BROWN: We're just over 100 days into President Trump's second term, and as he celebrated with supporters this week, he pointed to one key issue that has dominated his administration's agenda, immigration.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: I won on the basis of -- I think the number one thing was on illegal immigration, the border, the people pouring across our border that are from all over the world.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BLITZER: The administration's aggressive immigration crackdown has come at a breakneck pace and shows absolutely no signs of slowing down.
BROWN: It's also pushed the limits of the executive branch's power, resulting in a series of standoffs with the courts that many fear could foment a constitutional crisis.
BLITZER: CNN's Brian Todd is back at the Magic Wall for us for a deeper look at the impact of these unprecedented policies.
Update our viewers, Brian.
BRIAN TODD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, guys, it's interesting. There are a couple of different barometers that you can use when you
talk about Donald Trump's, as you mentioned, very aggressive immigration policy and where it's led us so far.
Let's first talk about the deportations. That's a very important barometer how the Trump administration measures itself. These are numbers that the Trump administration, of course, measures heralds as achievements. And, of course, human rights and civil rights groups would say otherwise.
[11:50:02]
But we hear the numbers on the total numbers of deportations as of today. The Customs and Border Protection agency has deported 66,939 immigrants. The Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency has deported 65,682, the Coast Guard 371, all told, close to 133,000 immigrants deported by the Trump administration.
Again, those are numbers that the Trump administration is lauding. And, of course, they are going to try to hike those numbers up as we go. It's very, very controversial, as we know, and the methods that they have used. But these are the numbers so far, guys.
BROWN: Candidate Trump, as we know, campaigned on the promise of a crackdown on the border. It is something the White House has been touting 100 days in. Where do things stand on that front?
TODD: Well, Pamela, that's another very important barometer.
And, again, these numbers could be even more stark than the deportations that we have seen. Check out just the number of Southwest border encounters over the last six months. Take a look at where they were in October of 2024 just before the election, 56,520 recorded encounters between border agents and immigrants at the border at -- in October.
Then you see, at the time President Trump got elected, it had gone down, and then right before his inauguration went steadily down. But then, right around the time of Donald Trump's inauguration, those numbers really started to plummet. And take a look at where they are as of just -- just as of March, 7,181 border encounters along the Southwest border.
Again, take a look at the drop-off there. That really does send something -- say something about the signals that the Trump administration is sending to potential migrants and word getting around among many potential migrants in the Southern Hemisphere, maybe a lot of them just not bothering to try at certain points, but those numbers are very, very stark.
BLITZER: And, as you know, Brian, one of the most controversial moves by the new Trump administration has been its relationship with El Salvador, especially the country's notorious mega-prison.
Walk us through these unprecedented moves.
TODD: Yes, that prison, Wolf, is notorious.
It's called the Terrorism Confinement Center, also known as CECOT, 57 acres. It -- the first prisoners started going there in 2023. It houses the worst of the worst in El Salvador, gang members and other criminals, including people still making their way through the justice system.
The Trump administration has deported upwards around 300 migrants, many of whom are accused by the Trump administration of being members of a notorious Venezuelan gang. Another very well-known case related to the CECOT prison is that of Kilmar Abrego Garcia. He is the Salvadoran immigrant who lived in Maryland.
He was mistakenly deported back to El Salvador recently. He was housed at that CECOT prison, but then he was moved to another facility. CNN's latest reporting is that the members of the Trump administration, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, have been in touch with the president of El Salvador, Nayib Bukele, about Kilmar Abrego Garcia's case.
There are reports that the Trump administration has asked for him to be sent back, but the president of El Salvador is saying, no, he will not send him back. President Trump, in an interview just the other day, said he could have him sent back, but that he's not going to, so Kilmar Abrego Garcia's case is still a very, very controversial one as it relates to that prison in El Salvador and the entire crackdown.
BROWN: We have also seen a crackdown -- that seems to be the word of the day here -- on college campuses across the country, with students here on suit of visas being arrested. Where do some of these cases stand?
TODD: Pamela, these are some of the most aggressive tactics that the Trump administration has used in its immigration crackdown.
And these are two of the very well-known cases, first Mahmoud Khalil. He was a graduate student at Columbia University. He acted as a protest leader in the spring of 2024, the anti-Israel protests there at Columbia University, the pro-Palestinian protests. He was also a liaison between the student protesters and the police and the school administration.
Well, he was arrested in March and processed through the system. He was sent to the Central Louisiana ICE processing facility. He is now suing the government for unlawful detainment. The Trump administration accuses him and this lady, Rumeysa Ozturk, a Turkish national, they accuse both of them of being tied to Hamas and supporting Hamas, both of whom deny those charges.
Rumeysa Ozturk was also rounded up in a very infamous kind of scene in Massachusetts. She's a Tufts University student. She was rounded up in March by a group of immigration officers who then donned masks. She is also being held in Louisiana. She's been there for close to five weeks now. These are very controversial cases, kind of symbolic of the very aggressive crackdown on students and people who hold student visas who the Trump administration is accusing of basically having ties to terrorist groups.
BLITZER: Brian Todd reporting for us.
Excellent reporting, as usual, Brian. Thank you very, very much.
[11:55:00]
And, to our viewers, thanks very much for joining us. You can always keep up with us on social media @WolfBlitzer and @PamelaBrownCNN. We will see you back here tomorrow 10:00 a.m. Eastern.
"INSIDE POLITICS WITH DANA BASH" is coming up next, right after a short break.
